Netrunner is a Linux Operating System for PCs, laptops/netbooks and even ARM microcomputers, that makes exclusive use of the KDE Plasma desktop environment. You can install Netrunner Linux on a computer using a bootable flash drive with Netrunner Linux setup files. This article mentions the method to install latest version Linux Netrunner 19.08 Indigo as a Single Boot Host Operating System on a Computer by creating a bootable Netrunner Flash Drive on an existing Windows System while replacing the existing operating system.
Most importantly, before installation make sure your system has the minimum configuration in compliance with Netrunner recommended minimum system and hardware requirements. The same are given in table below:
| Processor | 1.6 Ghz |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| Disk Space | 15 GB |
| Graphics Card | Intel GMA 945 |
| Video Memory | 128 MB |
| Flash Drive | 4 GB |
To create a Netrunner Linux bootable Flash Drive (in other words Pen Drive or USB Drive) on a Windows system and install Netrunner Linux as a single host operating system follow the six easy steps below:
Step 1: Download Netrunner Linux latest version ISO File
Login to your Windows System, open a web browser and navigate to official website of Netrunner Linux Operating System. On the Home Page, click on “Download” Menu Button to navigate to Netrunner Download page.
On download page, click on the Netrunner Linux’ ISO Download Link.
The browser will navigate to the download source page and prompt to save the ISO file. Save the ISO file to your computer.
Important Note: There is no 32-bit ISO download link for Netrunner Linux. That is to say only 64-bit Netrunner Linux ISO download link is provided. It means Netrunner Linux can be installed only on the 64-bit machines. Anyways, the system architecture type is 64-bit nowadays on almost all modern computers. If you have an old PC with 32-bit architecture you may try some other flavor of Linux such as Linux Mint.
Step 2: Download Disk Image Writer Software
While the browser is downloading Netrunner Linux ISO file, scroll down the download page. Check for Disk Image Writer download link for windows. Click on the link to download Disk Image Writer tool.
Save the executable file of Disk Image Writer tool on your computer. Wait for the download of both files. Once the download is complete for Disk Image Writer tool and Netrunner ISO file, close the browser and go to the download location.
Step 3: Verify Netrunner ISO file
It is very important for the user to verify the Integrity of the ISO file that he is going to use for installation of latest version of Netrunner Linux Operating System. Thus, the user must check the ISO file before using it for creating a Netrunner bootable flash drive.
What is Integrity?
Integrity means that the ISO image file was properly downloaded and that the local file is an exact copy of the file present on the download server. An error during the download could result in a corrupted file and trigger random issues during the installation.
Generate SHA256 Sum:
To check integrity, execute the Disk Image Writer tool’s setup file from the download location and install it with default options. Open Disk Image Writer tool. Click on the browse button and go to download location.
In the browse explorer, from the file types drop down box select *.* to display all files present in the download location.
Select the Netrunner Linux ISO File. Disk Image Writer will display the file path in “Image File” Text box. Now, move the cursor to “Hash” section. Click on the drop-down box and select “SHA256” hash function option.
Compare SHA256 sum:
Now, open a blank sheet in Microsoft Excel or Libre Calc. Go back to Disk Image Writer. Press the “Copy” button adjacent to “Generate” button to copy the ISO file’s SHA256 sum. Again, go to Excel sheet and paste the SHA256 sum in an appropriate cell. Now, maximize the web browser and scroll the download page of Netrunner ISO file to copy the SHA256 sum provided on it.
Copy the SHA256 sum from Netrunner website and paste it in a appropriate cell in Excel sheet. Use “=” (equal to) operator to compare the SHA256 sum provided on Netrunner website with the SHA256 sum generated in Disk Image Writer tool. For example, in new cell type =F1=F2, where F1 and F2 are excel sheet’s cell each of which contain the two SHA256 sums.
If both the sum will match, then the “equal to” operator will give “True” as an output. Else “equal to” operator will give “False” as an output. If the output is True then proceed to next step. Else, download the Netrunner Linux ISO file on some other computer with a reliable internet connection and repeat above steps. It is too important to ensure that the ISO file is not malicious and is the same copy that is provided by Netrunner.
Step 4: Flash Netrunner Linux’ ISO to USB Flash Drive
The Disk Image Writer tool will be visible as shown in image below, but without any detected device i.e. a Flash drive:
The “Device” drop-down box will be empty. Now insert a flash drive in the USB slot of your computer which you want to use for making it bootable for installing Netrunner Linux. Disk Image Writer tool will detect the flash drive and display in “Device” drop-down box. Click on “Write” button to start flashing the ISO image file to flash drive.
Warning: ensure that there is no useful data on the flash drive (as flashing it will wipe it off)
Disk Image Writer tool will display warning before wiping flash drive. If you are sure there is no important data on flash drive, click “Yes” to continue. The flashing will begin, wait for it to complete. Close the Disk Image writer tool on successful flashing of Netrunner ISO image to Flash Drive. The flash drive will now act as Netrunner Bootable Flash Drive.
If you want to install Netrunner Linux on the same computer then Restart the System. Else if you want to install it on any other computer then insert the flash drive in that computer and turn on the computer.
Step 5: Set and Boot from bootable Flash Drive
On system boot, press a designated key (F10, F12, F2, Del, Esc, F9) to enter BIOS or UEFI Setup. It could be different on different make and model. Try other keys as per Make and Model of your computer. Search for the booting device settings and select USB Drive as the Booting Device. Turn off secure boot. Save and Exit BIOS / UEFI setup. The system will restart. While booting, press the designated key (F9, F10, F12, F2, Del, Esc) to display Boot Menu. It will display the list of booting devices. Select USB Drive as Boot Device and Hit Enter.
Step 6: Install Netrunner Linux
Run Netrunner Live session:
If the system will boot from the flash drive, it will display Netrunner Linux boot screen on your computer screen. Hit Enter Key on the first option “Start Netrunner Desktop Live (amd 64)”.
System will load Netrunner Linux Live session from the Flash Drive. In the live session, you can explore the features of Netrunner Linux. The live session will perform all Netrunner operations but the data will not be persistent. Any data saved will be lost on system restart. To make it persistent you need to install it on hard drive.
Run Netrunner Linux Installer:
To run the installer, you shall click on “Install Netrunner Desktop” icon on desktop in Live Netrunner session.
The installer will open to begin installation process. During the installation follow on-screen instructions. Choose Language, Region, Zone, and Keyboard Layout as per requirement. Else proceed with default options if no specific requirements are there by clicking on “Next” button.
On “Partitions” section, choose the option “Erase disk”. It will erase the entire disk. Ensure there is no data on the system disk before selecting this option as it will deleted. If there is existing data, then ensure Data Backup Before Proceeding. If there is no useful data click “Next” to proceed.
In “Users” section, type your name, login name, computer’s name and user password. Then click on “Next” to continue.
Begin Netrunner Linux installation:
On the summary page, check the details once again and click on “Install”. This will Erase Disk and Install Netrunner Linux as the sole Host Operating System. It will replace Windows and existing data or any other Operating System on the computer. Thus, ensure that there is no useful data on disk. Or else if you have taken the backup of your data before clicking on “Install”. The Installation process will begin.
Wait for the installation to finish. On successful installation installer will display a message “All Done”. If it does not display “All done” message. Or if the installation is interrupted in between you may need to repeat from Step 5 above. Finally, when installer displays success message “All Done”, check the “Restart Now” checkbox and click on “Done”. The system will restart. While restarting, remove the Flash Drive from the system.
Upon Restart, select the first option on boot screen “Netrunner 19.08 – Indigo – 64bit” and Hit ‘Enter’ to boot into Netrunner Linux. Your Netrunner Linux operating system will be ready for use now. Login with your password and use your Machine with latest version Netrunner Linux Operating System.
Watch the practical demonstration of the above process in following video:
We hope the above information was useful for you. Alas! Information keeps on updating. Follow us on social media, subscribe to our blog or subscribe our YouTube Channel to receive latest updates.
